I suspect the Pope has been poaching my posts! Just last week I explored the toxicity of legalism, and that post engendered more visits and replies than any other (OK, the blog’s been up less than two months. But even so…). Within a few days, an interview with the Pope came out that created a firestorm of discussion, both within the Roman Catholic and Protestantism, of protest and support and uncertainty. Francis’ premise: the church needs to move away from emphasizing rules to focusing on faith.
Read MoreHave a Beer?
In the early 70’s, 9 of us took a mission trip to Penasco, NM, just outside of Taos. One Saturday afternoon, the local lady, Laura, who set up the trip came by with a six pack of beer to relax with us. She offered a beer to one of the group, who graciously declined. As did the next. And the next.
With each, Laura seemed to take the decline as rejection; you could see her shrink within herself. Back in the legalistic day, Christians didn’t drink. Shouldn’t drink. Couldn’t drink, and still be viewed as a good Christian. And, many of our group genuinely didn’t indulge out of preference, not legalism. But Laura didn’t seem to make that distinction.
I did indulge, but didn’t feel the urge then. But I popped out, “Laura, I’d love one.”
Read MoreKissing Concrete
Snick. With the push of a button, the garage door descended. Snick. With another button, my new acquisition, a 2005 Honda ST1300, purred into life. By day’s end, we rode 340 miles through the mountains and valleys and beaches, the ranches and farms and cities of Ventura and Kern Counties. But now all of us lay face down, kissing concrete, with multiple pistols pointed at our heads, with tense faces behind them.
Read MoreWorship's Courage
I can ignore
your whispers
that convict me of my sins
in the busyness of daily life
doing what I “must”
I allow you
(the apex of my life)
to slip into the shadows
unseen, unheard
Read MoreAdapting
Two stories, seemingly unrelated, except that they both deal with bikes and Glacier National Park. Oh yeah, somewhere there’s a point that should connect them.
Story #1: Somewhere on the Road to the Sun in Glacier lies an otherwise nondescript patch of dirt. No monument marks it, tourists don’t drive by to gawk at a historical site, and honestly, few would care to see it even after this story. But dirt can teach a lesson.
Read MoreAddictions
Once
under two minutes
I ate an entire berry pie
Thereby
proving my gluttony
winning the blue ribbon
losing my love for berries for years
But today...
Read MoreMorning Devotions
On a late June morning we fired up the bikes and rode out of Kalispell, Montana about 7:00 AM. It soon hit me that the day was a microcosm of life. I expected great things about Glacier National Park, but early indications didn’t encourage me. The chill of 51 degrees cut deep, even through our leathers and layers of clothing, and we had to endure 30 miles of mostly urban traffic before approaching the park. So far, the shivers from cold and the frustrations from traffic seemed like a typical day. Nothing awesome, just unpleasant conditions.
Read MoreA 6 Foot Perspective
I don’t know how many others suffer from this malady, but I seem to see the world through a six foot perspective. That’s the average height of most men, although I came up just a little short on that one. Now, the years have dropped me further from that exalted status of two yards. Even so, in a standing crowd I often judge if I’m taller than most, or shorter. I often come out ahead (pardon that bad pun).
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